Chris and Bev – Heads in the Clouds

Today was the final day for the MBC frame-erecting guys. They’ve put up the house in three weeks, as they said they would. They’ve been hard-working, diligent and helpful – if all our trades can be this good, we’ll be flying! The guys that have joined the core team of Brendan, Shaun and Nathan, in between other jobs or at spare weekends, have been in the same mould and just slotted in. The bang bang of nail guns is still going with Dave and Curtis, but it’s more a pheasant shoot than the military bombardment we (and our neighbours) have experienced for three weeks solid.

There’s no let-up, and today Richard and another keen team have arrived to start installing the windows and doors. A lorry and trailer of reassuringly expensive-looking triple glazed units arrived and the guys swarmed through the house, identifying what goes where and debating how the heavy units can be manoeuvred into place. There was a lot of sucking of teeth, culminating in the need for scaffold changes. We’re learning how critical the scaffolders are – builders, window-fitters, roofers, they all want different configurations, access and heights …

With Brendan and co, Richard and co, Dave and Curtis, and scaffolders, Nick and Tommy, we’ve had 14 on site today – we’ve gone from 0 to 60 in moments. Dulcie is now used to the comings and goings of strange builders, the slamming of van doors, incessant deliveries, hammering and banging. She’s a different dog from the thin, terrified creature we re-homed two years ago. She goes to each builder in turn for fuss and attention and checks for unwanted food, before settling into her caravan or bothy bed for a well-earned snooze.